Rain

This is a short documentary from the city-symphony genre of film in the early era of film. Unlike most city symphonies, Rain has more of a narrative structure as it shows Amsterdam and it's inhabitants immediately before, during, and after the rainfall. The gentle melodic strumming of guitar accompanies the various images and provides for an added tranquil experience. The film is shot using often obscure angles and close ups of images out of their normal range of view. As it was made during the silent era, there are no words to taint the beauty/ experience and the images are allowed to speak for themselves- while each viewer is allowed to connect and relate their own experience with the anticipation of rain. The film is short and sweet and perhaps one of the most naturally compelling visions of early or even later cinema. If you have the rare opportunity to view this piece of art, I highly suggest it.

This early dutch short film will confuse everyone who thinks cinema is a medium only fit to tell stories. Predating some of the most interesting --and lyrical-- documentaries of recent times, devoid of spoken words or any logical discourse, "Regen" offers a few, brief impressions of a rainy afternoon in Amsterdam; they do not form a sequence, they do not tell anything, but they definitely convey a sense of melancholy and quietness. If a conventional movie is the equivalent of a novel, or a short story, this should be regarded as a poem: it is concerned not with what's next, but with what's there, with perceptions of things.

Fans of Ron Fricke's "Baraka", Godfrey Reggio's "Powaqqatsi", or Peter Greenaway's "Prospero's Books", should try to find this relatively unknown film. The poetry of its images, underlined by its beautiful score, is truly memorable.

I just recently found out about Joris Ivens and is awe-inspired by the amount of pieces he made.

This piece is a study about RAIN in the city. It is a beautiful montage of images,reflections,closeups,and people in the city.

His work reminds me of Georgia O'Keefe's, work as an artist. Her work was based on bringing hidden details out into the open, I feel much the same way about Ivens. The slowness of the film gives one time to think about the images, and I like that. Unlike most films today, in and out as quickly as possible.

A must see by any image loving artist.

I watched Regen yesterday, for the first time. I had read a lot about it and was expecting a masterpiece. Something was not there - something was missing - or something was too much. I saw it for the second time. The images were fantastic - but something was impeding me to feel the masterpiece.

I thought that I was too tired - Regen was coming after two hours of watching other short movies, by Epstein, Eisenstein, Weinberg ... So I was definitely tired.

I took a break and went to the kitchen to eat something, then I came back. I saw it once more. I had an idea - I cut the sound - and I saw Regen again - and now I felt the masterpiece! It is a masterpiece. Only in its simplicity it has a grandeur, a greatness - and the music (which is fine) is not at the same level of greatness - of simplicity and greatness.

I saw it then several times - it is like a spell, it is binding you.

This silent film from Holland depicts the start and affects of a rain shower in the city of Amsterdam. It is a very beautiful movie with a good score, but the movie is definitely slow. It is not particularly interesting either. It is just an old and simple silent film that is not especially important. If you get chance to see it, you should just to see how far film has come in 70 years.